Blackpool Defeat Weakened Bolton 4th XV

Already knowing that it would prove a tough challenge, and missing a number of their core team due to University absences, Bolton knew they would have to put in a hearty performance.

With a number of changes, including some unusual tactical decisions by Uncle Les ( who was strangely happy having the Junior members of the squad in his car and was heard muttering "I will buy you an ice cream if you just...........") such as a second row at centre and a prop at scrum half Bolton kicked off after Captain for the day Hardman had won the toss.

Blackpool, whose first team is now in this league due to club difficulties, certainly started the stronger with some adventurous play coupled with some very strong running from their larger back row. It rapidly became apparent that Blackpool were going to state their intentions from the off with some bullocking runs which led to their no 8 crossing for the first two scores of the day which were converted by former Bolton player Andy Jolley, who in turn is returning to Bolton later this month.

Bolton recovered from their initial shell shock and with a change in tactics began to recover some of their composure. A large defensive hit from Wayne Gaskell on the hard running Blackpool 6 led to the Blackpool player being removed from the fray and this signalled a change in fortunes for the Bolton team with Mark Higgins making good yardage in the centre ably supported by James Gisborn and John Kelly. However Bolton were again quickly undone by some opportunistic play from the Blackpool back line who capitalised well on the Bolton mistakes to cross the whitewash to carry the game further away from Bolton.

Bolton knew that they had to try and make amends and the introduction of veteran Les Towler to the centres restored some stability prior to half time and in a series of telling hits Bolton managed to stop the Blackpool tidal wave of attacks and began to exert a significant amount of authority in the scrums, with Pete Catterall, Mark Robinson and newcomer Ian Morton all causing trouble in the tight. As Morton began to gel with his new team mates he found himself carrying an influential amount of ball and crossing the gain line on regular occasion. Hardman's distribution, although rarely ideal, also released the Bolton backs but sadly they could not break the resilient Blackpool defence.At fly half Clarke used his wizened head to try and turn the Blackpool team with his boot and with some enthusiastic chasing from both Sharples and Gledhill Bolton had it seemed stemmed the tide. The half concluded with a crunching hit from the Bolton defence on the Blackpool no 8 which left him gasping for breath throughout the half time break.

After stern words and some positive encouragement from the senior members of the Bolton squad, Bolton turned round at half time with a change in attitude. Immediately from the kick off Bolton attacked and with some positive running from Morton and Higgins they marched up the pitch. A mistake from the Blackpool side led to Bolton recapturing the ball and Morton again led the charge in to the Blackpool defence before off loading to Hardman who established a rolling maul from which Bolton crossed the tryline for Robinson to score.

Buoyed by this event Bolton again attacked with turnover ball from the scrum leaving the Bolton scrum half to quickly scamper down the pitch, some good recycling again saw Bolton establishing a beach head in the Blackpool 22. From the resulting ruck Catterall saw a gap and like a leaping salmon he rose majestically into the air to soar over the ruck to ground the ball. The judges on the sideline were unanimous in their awards of 6.0 for the technical difficulty of the dive combined with artistic marks ranging from 1.0 to 2.0. Catterall will this week be starring in Bolton's version of Dancing On Ice which is premiered on the Irwell Canal from 7pm.

These two rapid scores stung Blackpool back into action and a loose clearance kick, coupled with some elusive running by the Blackpool backs saw them score again under the posts. However Bolton were not yet finished and from the resulting kick off a good chase down by Gisborn led to Blackpool conceding a penalty. As Bolton had not been able to beat the Blackpool line out all day, they elected to run the ball with Higgins smashing into the Blackpool defence with the force of a demolition ball. Hardman again saw the chance of glory and broke blind feeding the fleet of hand Catterall who smuggled an excellent pass away under pressure to allow Morton the chance to go for the line. Although not a small man, Morton ably showed the tip toeing skills of a small elephant to run over the slightly disadvantaged Blackpool winger to score by the smallest of margins in the corner.

Scenting a come back Bolton set themselves for another attempt at the Blackpool line from kick off however it was Blackpool who now came back into the game. Numerous infringements including a very poor set of punches from an irate Bridges "he hit me on the ear ref!" led to Blackpool gaining a number of penalties and it despite heroic defence from the entire Bolton team including 3 text book tackles from the veterans Walton and Towler (both of whom were rolling back the years to a time when Blackpool was the holiday destination of choice) it was from one of these penalties that Blackpool crashed over for the last score of the day to conclude a very enjoyable game of rugby.

The score does not reflect the endeavour put into the game by an enthusiastic Bolton side, however it should act as a confidence builder for their next game.

Tries: Catterall, Robinson, Morton (1st for the club on his début)

Conversions: 0 (as Thomas couldn't hit a barn door due to holding his sore testicles)

Fraser Hart Mom: Hardman (!!!)